Volunteer Programs in Rural Areas, Kenya

I couldn’t have asked for more from my trip. My friend and I done 11 weeks teaching in Kenya and now have friends for life; we can’t wait to return and see them again!! IVHQ were extremely informative, helpful and attentive, before and during our trip. We couldn’t have asked for more from our Local Team who met us frequently and took us on excursions. Kenyans are such generous and kind-hearted people which made us feel welcome and like family, instantly. The children are so grateful and always happy to see you. Kenya will hold a special place in my heart, always🤍

Volunteering with IVHQ has honestly changed my life for the better - I feel as though I am much more open-minded as a person and willing to try things out of my comfort zone as the reward, in the end it is so worth it. I felt so welcome and learnt so much about how other people and cultures live their lives and I feel extremely thankful to have been a part of that (even if it was only for a short period of time).

When I was planning my trip, my Program Manager was very helpful and she never made me feel like my questions were silly! The IVHQ program guide was also very helpful and really allowed me to gather the information needed to feel ready and safe for my trip. My accommodation was 100/10 - my host Mum and her children welcomed me into their home with open arms and saying goodbye was extremely hard. The kids I met in the special needs unit will always have a special place in my heart. I feel like I was able to make an impact in their lives and they definitely made an impact on mine. Another favourite moment of mine was teaching the kids and my host Mum to crochet and it was so heart warming to share something I love with them. You'll regret not doing it - the stories I have and the friendships I've made are things I'll cherish for the rest of my life. It can be scary and overwhelming to travel across the world and be thrown into an unfamiliar situation, but you have SO many people who are there and ready to help you. It's an experience of a lifetime!

I would recommend anyone to do this program if they are thinking about it. It is very daunting at first, but once we knew the area and sank into the program, it was everything and more than I expected.

This program has made me feel truly humbled. I feel like I connected with the people in my program, everyone was helpful and there wasn't one moment where I questioned the program. If you are considering the Special Needs Program in Kenya, or IVHQ in general, I would say sometimes you have to give life a go. Fear stops you from seeing the world. On your trip it is important to be cautious and safe. But I promise you, if you come with an open mind, you will have an unforgettable experience.

The two weeks that I was there I learned many things and grew as a person. I liked being able to help the children of my school to be able to improve their knowledge. It is a very nice feeling to see how the students were taking steps forward and to know that IVHQ helped make that happen. It is a unique, moving and very beautiful experience. I take with me many memories, joys, smiles, friendships and above all, learning. I was delighted to see myself as part of this volunteer program and without a doubt I would go again.

Your life will be changed forever I can guarantee it! The guidance and preparation resources I received from IVHQ were very handy and easy to understand! My host family who I lived with for my duration were super warm and welcoming - I will miss them all very much. On the Special Needs Care project, I was working with a young boy who had a physical disability. He wouldn’t usually play outside and participate physically in class due to his disability, however, we worked on specific rehab exercises to build his confidence. It was insane to see the difference just one day of work could do. He was out playing soccer with the other kids at lunch time, standing up in class and dancing. The increased confidence this young boy had, just with someone taking focus on him, was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. I enjoyed my experience to the point where I want to volunteer more regularly now and influence others as well. Volunteering is not an easy thing to do and it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but 100% one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have ever experienced. Seeing different cultures, environments, meeting new people from around the world and realising how happy you can be with so little made such an impact on myself and my own personal growth.

My volunteer experience working with the special needs students at Kimuchu Primary School in Thika was extraordinary. Although I only volunteered for a week I felt an immediate connection and bond with my students and teachers. The in country support and orientation was invaluable and James served as a trusted contact who helped me adapt to my new surroundings. My homestay was wonderful and my host, Faith, was welcoming, friendly and always willing to provide support. She shared insights into her life and culture and the food she prepared was amazing! I highly recommend IVHQ to anybody thinking about volunteering abroad. Transformative journey from the application process through my departure home.

I'm so, so grateful for my time volunteering in Kenya. After feeling a bit stuck and lacking that spark in my heart, I decided to sign up to go to Kenya... It's been a dream of mine to do a trip like this since I was 16 (I'm 39 now). I'm so glad I did!! I was, of course, nervous before going, but once I arrived and was greeted by the local team, all of those nerves melted away and I was able to immerse myself in the experience. The entire experience was eye opening, humbling, heart warming, and wonderful. That spark I was seeking has certainly been ignited and I can't wait to volunteer more and find more ways I can help. Thank you IVHQ for providing such a professional and safe avenue for this kind of experience! To anyone hesitant, those are normal feelings. There's always nerves and fear when stepping into something you've never done. But the only way to experience the great things in life is to feel the fear and step out and do it anyway! Great things never come out of comfort zones. Go for it and book the trip... you absolutely won't regret it!

Creating friendships that have continued outside of IVHQ has been wonderful as I feel they are my soul family. Getting to know others from all over the world, their personal goals in life, reasons for their volunteer work, their families, education, goals and wishes in life, etc made the experience much more memorable! Most importantly, the children whom I was privileged to have met and assist in their daily education in their school. It is in immersing myself and maintaining an open heart, and getting to know the children, their school life, activities outside of school, and overall atmosphere of the town, along with having a great host family that I can easily say that THEY changed me! I understand they may think we helped them by our volunteer work, but in the end it was them that helped me with my journey back to who I truly am and rediscovering my purpose! The trip and all the amazing people I learned from and had the pleasure of communicating with have been the best gift!!

I went to the Teaching programme in Nairobi and it was the best experience in my life! Some people said that they were amazed that I am doing this with just 18, but I think it helped me a lot to grow and see beyond my little home town in Germany. All the kind people I met there, the volunteers, my host family and all the kids at the school… I have already decided to visit them before I go to University and I will definitely take part in even more IVHQ programmes!!! My only regret is that I only signed up for a month, so I definitely recommend to sign up for two or three months!

It is my first time traveling abroad with IVHQ, I could not believe I would have a very nice placement family in Kenya before I arrived there. But now, I can promise you it is worth doing volunteering work with IVHQ and local partner. They are very professional and considerate in volunteers organization.